Psychopathology - behavioural approach to explaining phobias Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the two process model

A
  • Mowrer (1960)
  • explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety
  • classical conditioning for onset
  • operant conditioning for persistence
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2
Q

what is acquisition by classical conditioning

A

Watson and Rayner (1920)
- created phobia in Little Albert
- when presented the rat a loud noise also made
- noise = unconditioned stimulus
- fear = unconditioned response
- rat (Neutral stimulus) and UCS stimulus are encountered together they produce fear
- Albert displayed fear when he saw the rat - distress at other white furry objects

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3
Q

what is maintenance by operant conditioning

A
  • when we avoid the phobic stimulus we escape the fear and anxiety we would have experienced if we stayed there
  • reduction in fear reinforces the avoidance behaviour and phobia is maintained
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4
Q

what are the strengths of the behavioural approach

A

Real world application
- exposure therapies - flooding

Ad de Johng et al (2006)
- 73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had experienced a traumatic experience with dentistry
- compared to a control group of 21%
- confirms that association between stimulus and a unconditioned response leads to the development of phobias

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5
Q

what are the limitations of the behavioural approach

A

Cognitive aspects not accounted for
- phobias just aren’t avoidance responses they have a cognitive element
- people can hold irrational beliefs about the phobic stimulus
- two process model doesn’t completely explain all symptoms of phobias

  • not all phobias follow bad experiences
  • snake phobias = very few had interactions with them
  • not all frightening experiences lead to phobias
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